逐节对照
- The Message - The revolt dates from the ninth year and tenth month of Zedekiah’s reign. Nebuchadnezzar set out for Jerusalem immediately with a full army. He set up camp and sealed off the city by building siege mounds around it. The city was under siege for nineteen months (until the eleventh year of Zedekiah). By the fourth month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year, on the ninth day of the month, the famine was so bad that there wasn’t so much as a crumb of bread for anyone. Then there was a breakthrough. At night, under cover of darkness, the entire army escaped through an opening in the wall (it was the gate between the two walls above the King’s Garden). They slipped through the lines of the Babylonians who surrounded the city and headed for the Jordan on the Arabah Valley road. But the Babylonians were in pursuit of the king and they caught up with him in the Plains of Jericho. By then Zedekiah’s army had deserted and was scattered. The Babylonians took Zedekiah prisoner and marched him off to the king of Babylon at Riblah, then tried and sentenced him on the spot. Zedekiah’s sons were executed right before his eyes; the summary murder of his sons was the last thing he saw, for they then blinded him. Securely handcuffed, he was hauled off to Babylon.
- 新标点和合本 - 西底家背叛巴比伦王。他作王第九年十月初十日，巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒率领全军来攻击耶路撒冷，对城安营，四围筑垒攻城。
- 和合本2010（上帝版-简体） - 西底家作王第九年十月初十，巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒率领全军前来攻击耶路撒冷，对城安营，四围筑堡垒攻城。
- 和合本2010（神版-简体） - 西底家作王第九年十月初十，巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒率领全军前来攻击耶路撒冷，对城安营，四围筑堡垒攻城。
- 当代译本 - 西底迦执政第九年十月十日，巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒率领全军攻打耶路撒冷，在城外安营，修筑围城的高台。
- 圣经新译本 - 西底家作王第九年十月十日，巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒率领他的全军来攻打耶路撒冷；他们在城外安营，又在四围筑垒攻城。
- 中文标准译本 - 西底加统治第九年的十月十日，巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒率领全军来攻打耶路撒冷。他们在城外扎营，在城的四围造台筑垒。
- 现代标点和合本 - 西底家背叛巴比伦王。他做王第九年十月初十日，巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒率领全军来攻击耶路撒冷，对城安营，四围筑垒攻城。
- 和合本（拼音版） - 西底家背叛巴比伦王。他作王第九年十月初十日，巴比伦王尼布甲尼撒率领全军来攻击耶路撒冷，对城安营，四围筑垒攻城。
- New International Version - So in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon marched against Jerusalem with his whole army. He encamped outside the city and built siege works all around it.
- New International Reader's Version - Nebuchadnezzar was king of Babylon. He marched out against Jerusalem. His whole army went with him. It was in the ninth year of the rule of Zedekiah. It was on the tenth day of the tenth month. Nebuchadnezzar set up camp outside the city. He brought in war machines all around it.
- English Standard Version - And in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came with all his army against Jerusalem and laid siege to it. And they built siegeworks all around it.
- New Living Translation - So on January 15, during the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon led his entire army against Jerusalem. They surrounded the city and built siege ramps against its walls.
- Christian Standard Bible - In the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon advanced against Jerusalem with his entire army. They laid siege to the city and built a siege wall against it all around.
- New American Standard Bible - Now in the ninth year of his reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, camped against it, and built a siege wall all around it.
- New King James Version - Now it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, on the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon and all his army came against Jerusalem and encamped against it; and they built a siege wall against it all around.
- Amplified Bible - Now in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign, on the tenth day of the tenth month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he with all his army, against Jerusalem, and camped against it and built siege works surrounding it.
- American Standard Version - And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and encamped against it; and they built forts against it round about.
- King James Version - And it came to pass in the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he, and all his host, against Jerusalem, and pitched against it; and they built forts against it round about.
- New English Translation - So King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon came against Jerusalem with his whole army and set up camp outside it. They built siege ramps all around it. He arrived on the tenth day of the tenth month in the ninth year of Zedekiah’s reign.
- World English Bible - In the ninth year of his reign, in the tenth month, in the tenth day of the month, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came, he and all his army, against Jerusalem, and encamped against it; and they built forts against it around it.
- 新標點和合本 - 西底家背叛巴比倫王。他作王第九年十月初十日，巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒率領全軍來攻擊耶路撒冷，對城安營，四圍築壘攻城。
- 和合本2010（上帝版-繁體） - 西底家作王第九年十月初十，巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒率領全軍前來攻擊耶路撒冷，對城安營，四圍築堡壘攻城。
- 和合本2010（神版-繁體） - 西底家作王第九年十月初十，巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒率領全軍前來攻擊耶路撒冷，對城安營，四圍築堡壘攻城。
- 當代譯本 - 西底迦執政第九年十月十日，巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒率領全軍攻打耶路撒冷，在城外安營，修築圍城的高臺。
- 聖經新譯本 - 西底家作王第九年十月十日，巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒率領他的全軍來攻打耶路撒冷；他們在城外安營，又在四圍築壘攻城。
- 呂振中譯本 - 他作王的第九年、十月十日、 巴比倫 王 尼布甲尼撒 來了，他和他的全軍來攻 耶路撒冷 ，紮營攻城，四圍築壘來攻打。
- 中文標準譯本 - 西底加統治第九年的十月十日，巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒率領全軍來攻打耶路撒冷。他們在城外紮營，在城的四圍造臺築壘。
- 現代標點和合本 - 西底家背叛巴比倫王。他做王第九年十月初十日，巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒率領全軍來攻擊耶路撒冷，對城安營，四圍築壘攻城。
- 文理和合譯本 - 西底家叛巴比倫王、九年十月十日、巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒率其全軍、至耶路撒冷建營、四周築壘攻之、
- 文理委辦譯本 - 西底家叛。巴比倫王九年、十月十日、巴比倫王尼布甲尼撒、率其軍旅、至耶路撒冷、四周建營築壘、以攻擊、
- 施約瑟淺文理新舊約聖經 - 西底家 九年、十月十日、 巴比倫 王 尼布甲尼撒 率其軍旅、至 耶路撒冷 、在城之四圍、建營築叠以攻之、
- Nueva Versión Internacional - En el año noveno del reinado de Sedequías, a los diez días del mes décimo, Nabucodonosor, rey de Babilonia, marchó con todo su ejército y atacó a Jerusalén. Acampó frente a la ciudad y construyó una rampa de asalto a su alrededor.
- 현대인의 성경 - 시드기야왕 9년 10월 10일에 바빌로니아의 느부갓네살왕이 그의 모든 군대를 이끌고 와서 예루살렘 주변에 토성을 쌓고
- Новый Русский Перевод - На девятом году правления Цедекии, в десятый день десятого месяца , Навуходоносор, царь Вавилона, двинулся на Иерусалим со всем своим войском. Он расположился станом вокруг города и окружил его осадными сооружениями.
- Восточный перевод - И тогда на девятом году правления Цедекии, в десятый день десятого месяца (15 января 588 г. до н. э.), Навуходоносор, царь Вавилона, двинулся на Иерусалим со всем своим войском. Он расположился станом вокруг города и окружил его осадными сооружениями.
- Восточный перевод, версия с «Аллахом» - И тогда на девятом году правления Цедекии, в десятый день десятого месяца (15 января 588 г. до н. э.), Навуходоносор, царь Вавилона, двинулся на Иерусалим со всем своим войском. Он расположился станом вокруг города и окружил его осадными сооружениями.
- Восточный перевод, версия для Таджикистана - И тогда на девятом году правления Цедекии, в десятый день десятого месяца (15 января 588 г. до н. э.), Навуходоносор, царь Вавилона, двинулся на Иерусалим со всем своим войском. Он расположился станом вокруг города и окружил его осадными сооружениями.
- La Bible du Semeur 2015 - La neuvième année de son règne, le dixième jour du dixième mois , Nabuchodonosor, roi de Babylone, vint avec toute son armée attaquer Jérusalem ; il établit son camp devant la ville et construisit des terrassements tout autour .
- リビングバイブル - そこで、ゼデキヤ王の第九年の第十の月の十日にネブカデネザル王は全軍を率いて攻撃をしかけ、エルサレムを包囲しました。
- Nova Versão Internacional - Então, no nono ano do reinado de Zedequias, no décimo dia do décimo mês, Nabucodonosor, rei da Babilônia, marchou contra Jerusalém com todo o seu exército. Ele acampou em frente da cidade e construiu rampas de ataque ao redor dela.
- Hoffnung für alle - Darum zog Nebukadnezar erneut mit seinem ganzen Heer nach Jerusalem, um die Stadt anzugreifen. Im 9. Regierungsjahr von Zedekia, am 10. Tag des 10. Monats, begannen die Babylonier mit der Belagerung Jerusalems. Rings um die Stadt bauten sie Angriffsrampen.
- Kinh Thánh Hiện Đại - Ngày mười tháng mười của năm thứ chín đời Sê-đê-kia trị vì, Vua Nê-bu-cát-nết-sa, nước Ba-by-lôn, đem quân tấn công Giê-ru-sa-lem. Họ đóng quân chung quanh thành và xây đồn lũy để chống phá tường thành.
- พระคริสตธรรมคัมภีร์ไทย ฉบับอมตธรรมร่วมสมัย - ฉะนั้นกษัตริย์เนบูคัดเนสซาร์แห่งบาบิโลนทรงกรีธาทัพหลวงมารบกับกรุงเยรูซาเล็มในวันที่สิบเดือนที่สิบของปีที่เก้าแห่งรัชกาลกษัตริย์เศเดคียาห์ พระองค์ทรงตั้งค่ายอยู่นอกเมืองแล้วสร้างเชิงเทินล้อมเมืองไว้
- พระคัมภีร์ ฉบับแปลใหม่ - ในปีที่เก้าที่เศเดคียาห์ครองราชย์ วันที่สิบของเดือนสิบ เนบูคัดเนสซาร์กษัตริย์แห่งบาบิโลนและกองทัพของท่านทั้งหมดมาโจมตีเยรูซาเล็ม พวกเขาตั้งค่าย และก่อเชิงเทินรอบเมือง
交叉引用
- Daniel 4:1 - King Nebuchadnezzar to everyone, everywhere—every race, color, and creed: “Peace and prosperity to all! It is my privilege to report to you the gracious miracles that the High God has done for me.
- Daniel 4:3 - “His miracles are staggering, his wonders are surprising. His kingdom lasts and lasts, his sovereign rule goes on forever.
- Daniel 4:4 - “I, Nebuchadnezzar, was at home taking it easy in my palace, without a care in the world. But as I was stretched out on my bed I had a dream that scared me—a nightmare that shook me. I sent for all the wise men of Babylon so that they could interpret the dream for me. When they were all assembled—magicians, enchanters, fortunetellers, witches—I told them the dream. None could tell me what it meant.
- Daniel 4:8 - “And then Daniel came in. His Babylonian name is Belteshazzar, named after my god, a man full of the divine Holy Spirit. I told him my dream.
- Daniel 4:9 - “‘Belteshazzar,’ I said, ‘chief of the magicians, I know that you are a man full of the divine Holy Spirit and that there is no mystery that you can’t solve. Listen to this dream that I had and interpret it for me.
- Daniel 4:10 - “‘This is what I saw as I was stretched out on my bed. I saw a big towering tree at the center of the world. As I watched, the tree grew huge and strong. Its top reached the sky and it could be seen from the four corners of the earth. Its leaves were beautiful, its fruit abundant—enough food for everyone! Wild animals found shelter under it, birds nested in its branches, everything living was fed and sheltered by it.
- Daniel 4:13 - “‘And this also is what I saw as I was stretched out on my bed. I saw a holy watchman descend from heaven, and call out: Chop down the tree, lop off its branches, strip its leaves and scatter its fruit. Chase the animals from beneath it and shoo the birds from its branches. But leave the stump and roots in the ground, belted with a strap of iron and bronze in the grassy meadow.
- Daniel 4:15 - Let him be soaked in heaven’s dew and take his meals with the animals that graze. Let him lose his mind and get an animal’s mind in exchange, And let this go on for seven seasons.
- Daniel 4:17 - The angels announce this decree, the holy watchmen bring this sentence, So that everyone living will know that the High God rules human kingdoms. He arranges kingdom affairs however he wishes, and makes leaders out of losers. * * *
- Daniel 4:18 - “‘This is what I, King Nebuchadnezzar, dreamed. It’s your turn, Belteshazzar—interpret it for me. None of the wise men of Babylon could make heads or tails of it, but I’m sure you can do it. You’re full of the divine Holy Spirit.’”
- Jeremiah 39:1 - In the ninth year and tenth month of Zedekiah king of Judah, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon came with his entire army and laid siege to Jerusalem. In the eleventh year and fourth month, on the ninth day of Zedekiah’s reign, they broke through into the city.
- Jeremiah 39:3 - All the officers of the king of Babylon came and set themselves up as a ruling council from the Middle Gate: Nergal-sharezer of Simmagar, Nebushazban the Rabsaris, Nergal-sharezer the Rabmag, along with all the other officials of the king of Babylon.
- Jeremiah 39:4 - When Zedekiah king of Judah and his remaining soldiers saw this, they ran for their lives. They slipped out at night on a path in the king’s garden through the gate between two walls and headed for the wilderness, toward the Jordan Valley. The Babylonian army chased them and caught Zedekiah in the wilderness of Jericho. They seized him and took him to Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon at Riblah in the country of Hamath. Nebuchadnezzar decided his fate. The king of Babylon killed all the sons of Zedekiah in Riblah right before his eyes and then killed all the nobles of Judah. After Zedekiah had seen the slaughter, Nebuchadnezzar blinded him, chained him up, and then took him off to Babylon.
- Jeremiah 39:8 - Meanwhile, the Babylonians burned down the royal palace, the Temple, and all the homes of the people. They leveled the walls of Jerusalem. Nebuzaradan, commander of the king’s bodyguard, rounded up everyone left in the city, along with those who had surrendered to him, and herded them off to exile in Babylon. He didn’t bother taking the few poor people who had nothing. He left them in the land of Judah to eke out a living as best they could in the vineyards and fields. * * *
- Jeremiah 32:24 - “‘Oh, look at the siege ramps already set in place to take the city. Killing and starvation and disease are on our doorstep. The Babylonians are attacking! The Word you spoke is coming to pass—it’s daily news! And yet you, God, the Master, even though it is certain that the city will be turned over to the Babylonians, also told me, Buy the field. Pay for it in cash. And make sure there are witnesses.’” * * *
- 2 Chronicles 36:18 - And then he plundered The Temple of everything valuable, cleaned it out completely; he emptied the treasuries of The Temple of God, the treasuries of the king and his officials, and hauled it all, people and possessions, off to Babylon. He burned The Temple of God to the ground, knocked down the wall of Jerusalem, and set fire to all the buildings—everything valuable was burned up. Any survivor was taken prisoner into exile in Babylon and made a slave to Nebuchadnezzar and his family. The exile and slavery lasted until the kingdom of Persia took over.
- 2 Chronicles 36:21 - This is exactly the message of God that Jeremiah had preached: the desolate land put to an extended sabbath rest, a seventy-year Sabbath rest making up for all the unkept Sabbaths.
- Ezekiel 4:1 - “Now, son of man, take a brick and place it before you. Draw a picture of the city Jerusalem on it. Then make a model of a military siege against the brick: Build siege walls, construct a ramp, set up army camps, lay in battering rams around it. Then get an iron skillet and place it upright between you and the city—an iron wall. Face the model: The city shall be under siege and you shall be the besieger. This is a sign to the family of Israel.
- Ezekiel 4:4 - “Next lie on your left side and place the sin of the family of Israel on yourself. You will bear their sin for as many days as you lie on your side. The number of days you bear their sin will match the number of years of their sin, namely, 390. For 390 days you will bear the sin of the family of Israel.
- Ezekiel 4:6 - “Then, after you have done this, turn over and lie down on your right side and bear the sin of the family of Judah. Your assignment this time is to lie there for forty days, a day for each year of their sin. Look straight at the siege of Jerusalem. Roll up your sleeve, shake your bare arm, and preach against her.
- Ezekiel 4:8 - “I will tie you up with ropes, tie you so you can’t move or turn over until you have finished the days of the siege.
- 1 Chronicles 6:15 - Jehozadak went off to exile when God used Nebuchadnezzar to take Judah and Jerusalem into exile. * * *
- Ezekiel 21:23 - “To the Judah leaders, who themselves have sworn oaths, it will seem like a false divination, but he will remind them of their guilt, and so they’ll be captured.
- Ezekiel 21:24 - “So this is what God, the Master, says: ‘Because your sin is now out in the open so everyone can see what you’ve been doing, you’ll be taken captive.
- Ezekiel 24:1 - The Message of God came to me in the ninth year, the tenth month, and the tenth day of the month: “Son of man, write down this date. The king of Babylon has laid siege to Jerusalem this very day. Tell this company of rebels a story: “‘Put on the soup pot. Fill it with water. Put chunks of meat into it, all the choice pieces—loin and brisket. Pick out the best soup bones from the best of the sheep in the flock. Pile wood beneath the pot. Bring it to a boil and cook the soup.
- Ezekiel 24:6 - “‘God, the Master, says: “‘Doom to the city of murder, to the pot thick with scum, thick with a filth that can’t be scoured. Empty the pot piece by piece; don’t bother who gets what.
- Ezekiel 24:7 - “‘The blood from murders has stained the whole city; Blood runs bold on the street stones, with no one bothering to wash it off— Blood out in the open to public view to provoke my wrath, to trigger my vengeance.
- Ezekiel 24:9 - “‘Therefore, this is what God, the Master, says: “‘Doom to the city of murder! I, too, will pile on the wood. Stack the wood high, light the match, Cook the meat, spice it well, pour out the broth, and then burn the bones. Then I’ll set the empty pot on the coals and heat it red-hot so the bronze glows, So the germs are killed and the corruption is burned off. But it’s hopeless. It’s too far gone. The filth is too thick.
- Ezekiel 24:13 - “‘Your encrusted filth is your filthy sex. I wanted to clean you up, but you wouldn’t let me. I’ll make no more attempts at cleaning you up until my anger quiets down. I, God, have said it, and I’ll do it. I’m not holding back. I’ve run out of compassion. I’m not changing my mind. You’re getting exactly what’s coming to you. Decree of God, the Master.’”
- Jeremiah 43:10 - “Then address them: ‘This is what God-of-the-Angel-Armies says: Be on the lookout! I’m sending for and bringing Nebuchadnezzar the king of Babylon—my servant, mind you!—and he’ll set up his throne on these very stones that I’ve had buried here and he’ll spread out his canopy over them. He’ll come and absolutely smash Egypt, sending each to his assigned fate: death, exile, slaughter. He’ll burn down the temples of Egypt’s gods. He’ll either burn up the gods or haul them off as booty. Like a shepherd who picks lice from his robes, he’ll pick Egypt clean. And then he’ll walk away without a hand being laid on him. He’ll shatter the sacred obelisks at Egypt’s House of the Sun and make a huge bonfire of the temples of Egypt’s gods.’”
- 2 Kings 24:1 - It was during his reign that Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon invaded the country. Jehoiakim became his puppet. But after three years he had had enough and revolted.
- Ezekiel 26:7 - “God, the Master, says: Look! Out of the north I’m bringing Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon, a king’s king, down on Tyre. He’ll come with chariots and horses and riders—a huge army. He’ll massacre your surrounding villages and lay siege to you. He’ll build siege ramps against your walls. A forest of shields will advance against you! He’ll pummel your walls with his battering rams and shatter your towers with his iron weapons. You’ll be covered with dust from his horde of horses—a thundering herd of war horses pouring through the breaches, pulling chariots. Oh, it will be an earthquake of an army and a city in shock! Horses will stampede through the streets. Your people will be slaughtered and your huge pillars strewn like matchsticks. The invaders will steal and loot—all that wealth, all that stuff! They’ll knock down your fine houses and dump the stone and timber rubble into the sea. And your parties, your famous good-time parties, will be no more. No more songs, no more lutes. I’ll reduce you to an island of bare rock, good for nothing but drying fishnets. You’ll never be rebuilt. I, God, have said so. Decree of God, the Master.
- 2 Kings 24:10 - The next thing to happen was that the officers of Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon attacked Jerusalem and put it under siege. While his officers were laying siege to the city, Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon paid a personal visit. And Jehoiachin king of Judah, along with his mother, officers, advisors, and government leaders, surrendered.
- Jeremiah 51:34 - “Nebuchadnezzar king of Babylon chewed up my people and spit out the bones. He wiped his dish clean, pushed back his chair, and belched—a huge gluttonous belch. Lady Zion says, ‘The brutality done to me be done to Babylon!’ And Jerusalem says, ‘The blood spilled from me be charged to the Chaldeans!’ Then I, God, step in and say, ‘I’m on your side, taking up your cause. I’m your Avenger. You’ll get your revenge. I’ll dry up her rivers, plug up her springs. Babylon will be a pile of rubble, scavenged by stray dogs and cats, A dumping ground for garbage, a godforsaken ghost town.’ * * *
- Jeremiah 52:6 - By the fourth month of Zedekiah’s eleventh year, on the ninth day of the month, the famine was so bad that there wasn’t so much as a crumb of bread for anyone. Then the Babylonians broke through the city walls. Under cover of the night darkness, the entire Judean army fled through an opening in the wall (it was the gate between the two walls above the King’s Garden). They slipped through the lines of the Babylonians who surrounded the city and headed for the Jordan into the Arabah Valley, but the Babylonians were in full pursuit. They caught up with them in the Plains of Jericho. But by then Zedekiah’s army had deserted and was scattered.
- Jeremiah 52:9 - The Babylonians captured Zedekiah and marched him off to the king of Babylon at Riblah in Hamath, who tried and sentenced him on the spot. The king of Babylon then killed Zedekiah’s sons right before his eyes. The summary murder of his sons was the last thing Zedekiah saw, for they then blinded him. The king of Babylon followed that up by killing all the officials of Judah. Securely handcuffed, Zedekiah was hauled off to Babylon. The king of Babylon threw him in prison, where he stayed until the day he died.
- Jeremiah 34:1 - God’s Message to Jeremiah at the time King Nebuchadnezzar of Babylon mounted an all-out attack on Jerusalem and all the towns around it with his armies and allies and everyone he could muster:
- Jeremiah 34:2 - “I, God, the God of Israel, direct you to go and tell Zedekiah king of Judah: ‘This is God’s Message. Listen to me. I am going to hand this city over to the king of Babylon, and he is going to burn it to the ground. And don’t think you’ll get away. You’ll be captured and be his prisoner. You will have a personal confrontation with the king of Babylon and be taken off with him, captive, to Babylon.
- Jeremiah 34:4 - “‘But listen, O Zedekiah king of Judah, to the rest of the Message of God. You won’t be killed. You’ll die a peaceful death. They will honor you with funeral rites as they honored your ancestors, the kings who preceded you. They will properly mourn your death, weeping, “Master, master!” This is a solemn promise. God’s Decree.’”
- Jeremiah 34:6 - The prophet Jeremiah gave this Message to Zedekiah king of Judah in Jerusalem, gave it to him word for word. It was at the very time that the king of Babylon was mounting his all-out attack on Jerusalem and whatever cities in Judah that were still standing—only Lachish and Azekah, as it turned out (they were the only fortified cities left in Judah). * * *